Violin.



aktozwuzo Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

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Walker Francis I W. FRANCIS.

VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 1910.

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H WH U um mn m W. FRANCIS.

VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 1910.

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Wm te r Franc Lb won wan MEHA PLANOGRAPH L Patented Dec.24,1 912.

WALTER FRANCIS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VIOLIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24,1912.

Application filed. October 10, 1910. Serial No. 586,297.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, /VALTER FRANCIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violins; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in violins and similar stringed instruments.

One object of the invention is to construct a stringed instrument of this character to produce a tone of fine quality and quantity and of great variety and modulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument having great possibilities and facilities for its manipulation and which is very simply constructed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 represents a top plan view of this improved instrument; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the shell or body of the instrument with the top and other parts removed; Fig. 4 isa top plan view with the top or cover removed; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the keys or pegs detached; Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section through the body of the instrument showing another form of sounding post or bridge; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the bridge.

In the embodiment illustrated, the hollow body or shell of the instrument is constructed in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 4:, being composed of top and bottom plates 1 and 2 of the same shape and size which are reduced in width at their centers with the edges of said reduced centers parallel, the ends being of uniform size and the sides thereof being straight and flaring outwardly in opposite directions from the ends of said reduced centers, the end edges of said plates being straight and parallel with each other. The corners of said plates 1 and 2 are beveled or cut off for a purpose to be described. These top and bottom plates are connected by side walls or ribs 3 which are composed of flat straight strips connected at their opposite edges to the edges of the top and bottom plates and conform to the contour of said plates. The parallel side walls which unite the reduced central portions of said bottom and top plates are provided with sound apertures 6 and 7 and similar apertures 8 are formed in the corner walls 5. The sound waves pass out through the apertures 8 of said corner walls and air passes in through the side ports 6 and 7 The end walls 1 extend transversely and are parallel with each other as above described. Arranged within the sound holes or ports 6 and 7 are two disk-like valves 9 and 10 which are pivoted vertically to the upper and lower walls of said ports to swing in horizontal planes. Rubber or felt washers as 9 are preferably arranged on the spindles of the valves to serve as stops for holding said valves frictionally at any desired point to which they may be turned. These valves 9 and 10 are connected by cords or other suitable elements 11 and 12 which are secured at their opposite ends to opposite sides of said valves and cross each other about the center of the instrument. By so connecting these valves it will. be obvious that the turning of one will operate to turn the other simultaneously, whereby both ports 6 and 7 may be opened or closed at the same time.

A sound post 13 is arranged between the bottom or back 1 of the instrument and its top or belly 2 in position directly below one leg of an inverted U-shaped bridge 14: the other leg of which is arranged over a bass bar 15 which is secured to the lower face of the belly and extends longitudinally thereof. This bridge 14 is arranged midway be tween the ends of the instrument body on the central reduced portion thereof with one leg directly over the sound post 13 at a point about one-third the distance from one side of the body and with its other leg arranged over the bass bar 15 about one-third the distance from the other side thereof, and is provided in its upper face with a plurality of notches as 16 to receive the strings 17 four of said strings being shown.

A neck 18 is secured to one end of the body of the instrument by any suitable means and is provided with a head 19 and with a finger board 20 secured to its upper face and preferably provided with a notched rib 21 to receive the strings 17 which are preferably connected with the neck by means of pegs 22 constructed as shown in detail in Fig. 6 having open slots as 23 in one end to receive the knotted ends of the strings. A tail piece or apron 24: preferably constructed in a form similar to the form of the body of the instrument as shown clearly in Fig. 1, has the other ends of the strings 17 connected with one end thereof by any suitable means and its other end provided with suit-able clips 25 for detachably connecting it with the end of the instrument body at a point in alinement with the neck 18.

An air passage 26 is arranged in the top or belly of the instrument directly below the center of the bridge 14.

In Fig. 7 the top or belly 2 is provided with a slot 27 through which a sound post 28 projects a slight distance above the upper face of said top, and one leg of the inverted U-shaped bridge 29 rests on said post 28. A block 30 is arranged on the top Qdirectly over the bass-bar 15 and on which the other leg of the bridge 29 rests whereby the bridge is supported above the top of the instrument and held out of contact therewith. This bridge 29 as well as the bridge 14; shown in the other figures, is preferably made wedge-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 2 with its reduced tapered edge extending upwardly and notched to re ceive the strings. These bridges are also much thicker at their center than at the ends thereof, tapering gradually toward said ends by means of which the sounds from the two strings 17 and 17 are conducted to the sound post side of the instrument and the sounds from the two strings 17 and 17 are conducted to the bass bar side of the instrument. The bridge being of inverted U- shape and much thicker through the center from its upper to its lower edge than at its ends, causes the sound waves to pass in the manner above described. This bass bar 15, which is constructed of a strip of wood arranged longitudinally of the instrument, is fastened permanently to the lower face of the top directly under the left leg of the bridge, and is preferably provided with a convex lower face.

The side and end walls or ribs of the instrument are composed of straight flat strips of material and are secured at their opposite edges to the edges of the top and bottom plates, and the exit ports 8 being formed in the side walls of the beveled corners are disposed diagonally opposite and at points most remote from the bridge and center of the instrument. The walls of the instrument and the air within the hollow body thereof are thrown into vibrations at the center of the instrument by the performer and the vibrations so formed compress the air within the instrument, said air being elastic, and

as the air is compressed, additional air will enter the hollow body from the nearby openings 6 and 7 in the side walls. The compressed elastic air will expand and flow to the widened ends in waves or currents and pass out through the sound exit ports 8, discharging the sound in the atmosphere in direct lines from the bridge let, as sound travels farther in straight lines to the point of least resistance, the waves widening as they go.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hollow resonance box forming the body of the instrument is constructed with the bridge 14L resting transversely on said body exactly midway between the twowalls 1, 4, dividing said body into two equal parts exactly alike in size, form and construction.

The valves 9 and 10 may be opened or closed at the will of the performer by turning one valve with the hand holding the bow, all that is necessary being simply to touch one valve with the finger, which will through the cords 11 and 1.2 cause the other valve to move simultaneously with it. Similar valves may be employed in the other sound ports if desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stringed musical instrument having a hollow resonance box composed of top and bottom plates corresponding in size and shape and reduced in width at their central portions midway their ends with the edges of said reduced portions parallel, the side edges diverging from the ends of said reduced portions and terminating in beveled corners, the edges of the ends of said plates being straight and parallel with each other, straight side walls connecting said top and bottom plates and conforming to the contour thereof, the side walls of the reduced central portion of said body and said beveled corners being provided with sound ports, pivotally mounted closures arranged in the sound ports of said central portions, and means connecting said closures and operable to open and close said closures simultaneously.

:2. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow resonance box reduced in width at the center thereof midway of its length, said box being provided with sound ports in the side walls of the reduced portion thereof, pivotally mounted closures arranged in said sound ports, and means connecting said closures operable to produce the simultaneous opening and closing of said closures.

3. A stringed musical instrument having a hollow resonance box constructed with a reduced central portion, straight parallel side walls at its reduced central portion, said walls diverging from the ends of said reduced portion, said parallel side walls being provided with sound ports and closures mounted in said sound ports and means operable to actuate said closures simultaneously to vary the size of said ports.

4. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow resonance box having straight side walls connecting its front and rear faces, said box being reduced in width midway of its ends, the side walls of said reduced portion having sound ports arranged diametrically opposite, closures pivotally mounted in said ports, means for holding said closures in adjusted position, v

and means connecting said closures operable to produce the simultaneous opening and closing thereof.

5. A stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow resonance box provided with sound ports in its side walls, pivotally mounted closures arranged in said sound ports, and means connecting said closures operable to produce the simultaneous opening and closing of said closures.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

1 WALTER FRANCIS. Witnesses:

LOUIS SPELBRINK, LOUIS BURG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). G. 

